Dear Parents and Carers,

Today, as we begin the season of Advent, I am reminded of the words of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop, who once said, “We must teach more by example than by word.” Such a sentiment is at the heart of our mission – to live out the teachings of Christ through our actions. In this way, I want to acknowledge the generosity of ERC families who have given so kindly to the ERC Christmas Appeal for St Vincent De Paul. This annual initiative, facilitated by Mrs Judith Hurley and the Identity Team, will be a central focus of next week’s final College Assembly.

As we near the end of this academic year, I am immensely proud of our student’s achievements, not solely in academics but in how they’ve embraced various challenges with determination. As a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition, it’s our vision to impart knowledge and equip our students with the tools necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world with grace and understanding. As we embark on this Advent journey, may our College always strive to be a community where faith is not just studied but lived.

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In the previous newsletter, I shared that four Year 12 students were nominated for the ArtExpress Exhibition. I am pleased to report that two of these boys have been selected for the 2023 HSC Showcase season. Congratulations to Henry Hofman: ‘de voor en de na’ (the before and the after) and Kieran Wardle: Sentient.

This is an incredible achievement and a testament to the expertise of our Visual Arts Faculty, headed by Ms Mary Costello. From the 8660 students who submitted Bodies of Work in 2023, only a very small percentage of student artworks were nominated for consideration. Each of the four nominated artworks is truly impressive, and we can be very proud of their achievements.

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At the end of Term 3, the College called for ‘expressions of interest’ from parents and carers of students currently in Years 8-10 for a proposed ‘History Tour of Europe’ to be held during September 2024. The strong interest shown allows us to announce that this Tour will now proceed. Thank you to those parents who gave this opportunity due consideration. I also want to acknowledge Mrs Helen Lothian, who has worked tirelessly in planning what promises to be an enriching experience for these students.

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In preparation for 2024, the following updates are for your reference within the area of Pastoral Care for individual year groups. Please be advised that under the leadership of Mrs Jodie Hughes, the Pastoral Coordinators and Pastoral Assistants for next year are as follows:

• Year 7: Mr Andrew Marsh, Mr Marco Panozzo
• Year 8: Mr Russell Bates, Mr Joshua Crapis
• Year 9: Mrs Carmen Russell, Mr Ryan Griffiths
• Year 10: Mr Pat Preeo, Mr Brendan Belsito
• Year 11: Mr Jeremy Forshaw, Mr Daniel Breeze
• Year 12: Mr Ben Bourke, Ms Rosanna Stella

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The College Leadership Team, in consultation with the EREA NSW Colleges Board, continues to review our strategic direction as we prepare for the 2024 school year and beyond. This includes continuing to refine learning and wellbeing programs, including the NSW curriculum reform, staff professional development, and ongoing improvement to College facilities to ensure we continue providing our students with the best possible learning environment.

Further to my previous communication regarding school fees, the 2024 School Fee Schedule will be included with the final newsletter for the year, with fee increases similar to last year driven by staff salary increases and the continued reduction in annual recurrent government funding under the Capacity to Contribute (CTC) funding model for non-government schools.

For your reference, I have attached a link for further information on the CTC non-government school funding model.

Our final newsletter will be on Friday, 15th December, which will include highlights from next week’s College Awards Assembly.

Best wishes,
Stephen Gough

SEMESTER TWO – ACADEMIC AWARDS AND THANKSGIVING ASSEMBLY

The Semester 2 Academic Awards and Thanksgiving Assembly will be held on the last day of Term 4, Wednesday 6 December. This assembly will combine our Semester 2 Academic Awards (usually held the following year) with our Thanksgiving Ceremony to conclude the term. The Assembly will commence after Recess at approximately 10:45 am, parents, careers and friends are most welcome to join us in celebration of their son’s achievements. We have arranged seating at the front right hand side (as you face the stage). Award recipients have been informed and a rehearsal will take place on Tuesday 5 December.

2024 COLLEGE CALENDAR (PARENT)

As we have done in previous years the College Calendar will be updated and published before the end of next week. This will include term dates, pupil free days and College events involving the entire community. Specific events that are fluid at this stage will remain part of our internal operational calendar for preparation and planning until these are finalised and definitely going ahead. Thank you to everyone involved in planning for 2024, to date, for their ongoing care and willingness to provide unique learning and holistic opportunities for all members of the community.

Mr Walsh
College Deputy Principal

Please note the Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on Thursday 7 December 2023, 8:30am to 10:30am onsite in the Edmund Rice Centre and from 3:00pm to 6:00pm via Zoom. Zoom Interviews will take place via https://lera.erc.nsw.edu.au/pt-interviews

Years 7-10 Academic Reports will be released before the 7 December 2023.

Bookings will be available through the parent portal and will open on Monday 4 December 2023 at 08:00am and will close on Wednesday 6 December 2023 at 9.00am.

Mrs Bell
Director of Studies

Come to the Manger

As we end the liturgical year in the Catholic Church calendar and approach the end of another school year, we start a period of preparation in anticipation of a new birth. Advent is a time when every person is invited to come to the manger, to think about how one life can change the world and to humble ourselves to be taught by a child. Indeed, this is the lesson that teachers learn every week as our students, the children in our care, teach us lessons in life as we navigate learning together. Advent reminds us that the work is always born anew and that we are always called to cooperate in the work that God has designed for each of us. The invitation in this year that we have been focussing on living out a Gospel Spirituality remains constant, to come to the manger so that we can journey on the road to the resurrection. In each act of kindness or service, each moment of compassion, Jesus is born again in us.

As we launched our Anti-Racism policy last week with a whole school lesson, we focussed on the idea that we live in a world where the circumstances of our birth often determine the advantages that we have. Indeed, recognising our responsibility to be open, kind and generous in spirit is the invitation to each of us, not only in terms of sharing from our excess, but in changing the structures around us so that what makes or keeps people poor is replaced in favour of structures that more closely resemble the kingdom of God. This advocacy is one foot of social justice and alleviating the immediate problems through charity is the other foot of social justice. We are grateful to all families who have donated to the Christmas Appeal for St Vincent dePaul. We have managed to raise over $1500, have 46 bags for women and teens and several boxes of food; you can still make donations up until Monday. Our founder, Blessed Edmund Rice, was a wealthy merchant who started out his religious life by giving everything he had to the poor. One of his famous sayings is ‘Give to the poor in handfuls.’ Thank you for making room in your heart for the poor and for supporting our efforts to create the conditions of the kingdom of God ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ May advent be a time when your own heart is full of love, joy, peace and hope.

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity

Complementing the Camp earlier this term, Year 8 experienced a Reflection Day facilitated by Youth Mission Team Australia (YMT). Gathering in the ERC Foyer, Year 8 considered the themes of self Image, positive relationships with others and relationship with God. Students engaged wholeheartedly in the many and varied activities facilitated by the YMT including icebreakers and games, team building, drama, personal testimonies, quiet reflection and prayer. Feedback from the day highlights the boys enjoyment of the reflection day and a growing understanding and appreciation of themselves, one another and God.

Mr Toohey
Head of Religion Studies

As the Yearly Examinations draw to a close, we extend our congratulations to all students for their dedicated efforts in completing their exams. Whether your son has achieved notable success or faced challenges, we encourage you to engage in meaningful discussions with him about his results.

To support facilitate these conversations, we recommend exploring the ‘After Tests and Exams’ module available on the online Study Samurai Library. This resource not only offers valuable information but also provides sample reflection questions to guide your discussion with your son. Instructions on accessing this module are provided below for your convenience.

We look forward to the upcoming celebration of academic achievements during the final assembly for Year 7 to 10 students next week. As we celebrate the academic achievements of our students, we also recognise the significance of growth. Throughout the term, numerous students have demonstrated growth in both learning and resilience. We encourage all students to continue to believe that they are capable of continuous improvement.

As a College, we highly value the collaborative partnership with our parents and carers in supporting the academic and personal development of our students. We encourage you to schedule a meeting with your son’s teachers during the upcoming Student Parent Teacher Conferences.

Dr Sozio
Director of Learning & Teaching

Congratulations to Henry Hofman and Kieran Wardle who have had their HSC Bodies of Work selected for inclusion in ArtExpress.

Henry Hofman will have his work exhibited at Hazelhurst Arts Centre and Kieran Wardle will have his work exhibited in the Virtual Exhibition VX as part of the 2023 showcase of exemplary works from the HSC Visual Arts examinations.

This is a wonderful achievement! Congratulations to Luca Piacentin and Ethan Tobin who were nominated.

Ms Costello
Head of Creative Arts

Our Year 9 and 10 Elective History students recently transported themselves back 3,300 years across the sands of the Sahara to the heartbeat of Ancient Egypt ruled by the most celebrated pharaoh in the country’s storied history, Ramses II. We were able to experience an Australian-first exhibition Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs at the Australian Museum in Sydney. This exhibition gave the boys an up-close look into the life, achievements, and stunning monuments of Ramses the Great captivating their imagination in the world of Ancient Egypt, learning about the rich history and cultural treasures of the pharaohs.

“The true wealth of a pharaoh and how they led their civilisation even fighting in hand to hand battles.”- Asher Percival

“The importance the pharaohs played in ancient Egypt, defined by the riches and magnitude of their wealth and the perceived link that was seen between the living world and that of the Gods.” – Liam Hall

“The best part of the exhibition was seeing the jewellery that was buried with Ramses. This was the best part as seeing the valuable and intricate items made apparent how important Pharaohs truly were and the admiration of their subjects.” – Harrison MacDonald

The exhibition’s multi-sensory nature heightened the sense of wonder, interweaving modern technology and ancient splendours making us feel as if we were getting to know Ramses personally. Ultimately, the afternoon was enjoyable and eye opening, leaving our students with lasting knowledge and a deepened understanding of the significance of Ramses’ reign and his influence in shaping Egyptian civilisation.

Ms Tomasi
HSIE Teacher

Recently students from Years 9, 10 and 11 attended the Freethinkers Forum, an opportunity to debate and discuss topical issues held at Rosebank College, Sydney. They presented and heard speeches on topics such as free speech, consent and bioethics.

The students also participated in a “Cross the Floor” activity where they were presented with a scenario which required individual students to take an ethical standpoint and justify their position.

“I thought group discussion around topics was valuable to gain new perspectives and it was good to be able to express your thoughts. Some of the speeches also helped me to broaden my understanding of the world and its issues”. Angus Allen, Year 10

“Because not everyone thinks the same, the event allows people to talk about issues and problems that some are facing and brings awareness to them”. Xavier Palermo, Year 9

Ms Shumack
Enrichment Coordinator

How to support your son post exam and assessment results

Over the past week or two the boys have received back their exams and assessments, whilst many boys will be proud of their results and their efforts. However, there will be some boys who may experience disappointment particularly if it is not the result that they anticipated.

Studyworkgrow published an article at the beginning of November recommending parents of teens use the following 6 tips to support them through their disappointment.

1. Let it go: Just listen. Be open and non-judgmental while your teen expresses their feelings, processes all that emotion, and then starts to move on.
2. Explore together: Helping your child to look at different perspectives could bring new hope, and even spark joy. Sometimes, a setback can open new doors that were previously unseen.
3. Find the positives: Remind your child that everyone experiences disappointment; in fact, it’s often how we grow.
4. Find their why: Knowing their core values and knowing their “why” can provide focus. This can help give them the confidence to move forward.
5. Write down their new goals: People who have clear and achievable goals, write them down, and check in on them are often more successful.
6. Ask for help: There are so many people aside from parents, carers, friends and family who are well placed to help. Help them identify and direct them towards those that can help. If feelings become overwhelming, there are professionals who can help them work through that too.

The full article can be found here

Do you have a child with Asthma

As we approach the summer holidays Asthma Australia have asked us to remind families that Summer holidays are an important time for kids with asthma. During all the festivities, please don’t forget to keep up your child’s asthma management and medicine as prescribed. Good asthma management over the holidays means less time off school when kids return in the new year, and less time off work for you.

To make sure your child stays as healthy as possible over the break and into 2024, you can take the following steps:

• Check your child’s medication to make sure they’re still in date.
• Keep using your child’s preventer medicine as directed over the summer holidays, even if they’re feeling well.
• If you’re leaving the house or going on holiday, make sure you pack your child’s asthma medicine(s) and a spacer.
• Book an Asthma Review with your doctor to get an updated written Asthma Action Plan during the holidays – you’ll need this for Term 1 2024. Book in early as doctors can have limited appointments over the Christmas period.
• Use Asthma Australia’s School’s Checklist for parents and carers: https://asthma.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/AA_BTS2022_Asthma-Checklist__digital.pdf

Mrs Hughes
Director of Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

Outstanding student athletes from primary and secondary schools, who proudly represented the Diocese of Wollongong at MacKillop and NSW Combined Catholic College events throughout 2023, were celebrated at the 26th annual Catholic Development Fund (CDF) Sports Awards. The event was hosted by the Wollongong Diocesan Sports Council on Friday, 10 November.

The event, proudly sponsored by the CDF, attracted over 500 guests to St Mary Star of the Sea College in Wollongong. The awards ceremony served as a positive advertisement for the pathways and structures available to primary and secondary students and teachers in the diocese.

Awards were presented to over 250 students, 13 school teams, and two teachers. Among them were three primary teams and eight secondary teams that all secured state Catholic school titles.

Professional footballer, Brendon Santalab, was the guest speaker for the evening and shared insights into his illustrious career.

Mr Santalab discussed the value of education, staying in school, and working hard when faced with challenges. He also highlighted the importance of good mental health and touched on the impact of bullying. His inspiring and authentic speech left guests with valuable insights about sports, life, and the significance of mutual respect.

In sharing lessons learnt during his career, Mr Santalab emphasised the significance of respect and leadership to the young athletes in the room. “Wherever you go, show respect to everyone around you,” he said. “It creates a positive impression of who you are. You don’t need a captain’s armband to lead. Without hard work, you might as well stop right there.”

In his address, our Director of Schools, Peter Hill, highlighted the significance of the Diocesan Sports Awards and commended the many individuals who generously give their time, expertise, and practical support to the young competitors.

The College was well represented at the awards ceremony, and we are happy to announce that Mitchell Blackbourn of Year 12 was awarded the Bishop Mascord Sportsman of the Year Award for the second year running! A tremendous achievement for Mitchell, which recognises his hard work and dedication to his craft. The College will be following Mitchell’s sporting career closely over the next few years, hoping to see him make his name on the world stage in Triathlon!

Our U16 CCC State Football Champions, and the Jnr & Intermediate Triathlon Teams were also recognised at the awards ceremony.

The following students were awarded Sports Council Medallions for being selected in a NSWCCC team in 2023:

Sports Council Red Medallion Recipients:

Bailey Abela, Stefen Anagnostopoulos, Timothy Arthur, Liam Bonetig, Patrick Carolan, Matthew Carolan, Ethan Dzeparoski, Bailey Everatt, Joe Hinds, Thomas Kirk, Daniel Meafou, Oliver Morgan, Coopar Nianios, Hamish O’Neill, Zac Oyston, Aidan Rayner, Milton Stepanovski, Lachlan Taylor and Aksel Thomsen.

The following students were awarded Blue Sports Council Medallions for being selected in either two NSWCCC teams, a NSW All Schools Team or an Australian All Schools Team.

Sport Council Blue Medallion Recipients:

Mitchell Blackbourn, Harry Fraser, Henry Jones, William Mason, Zane Ashcroft, Cooper Morrison, Parker Jobson, Maclean Coble,

The College was also awarded the Vince Villa Award for Champion School in the overall male division for 2023. Thank you to all coaches, managers, parents and of course the students for another successful sporting year!

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

Students interested in participating in the Inaugural NSWCCC Aquathlon, please see below information and flyer.

Date: Tuesday 19 December 2023 – Term 4, Week 11

Venue: Max Parker Leisure & Aquatic Centre

• 100m Swim & 1km Run Event (8 – 11yrs)
• 200m Swim & 2km Run Event (12 – 19yrs)

Event timings: First race 8.30am

To compete, please register on the CSNSW website. If you have any further questions please let me know.

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

Students interested in competing in the 2024 NSW All Schools Triathlon, please see the following information HERE.

https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/triathlon

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

2024 NSWCCC Sport registrations are now open. Students wishing to trial for the various NSWCCC individual pathways, please see the information attached.

Please note that before registering for Rugby League, Open’s Football, Cross Country, Swimming, Touch Football and Athletic pathways, students will need to be selected in the Wollongong Diocesan Team first.

Key ERC sport dates, events and information are also on the attached flyer.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College.

Mr Timpano
Sports Coordinator

The College Open day consisting of both Try Year 7 for a Day and the College Expo will be help on Tuesday 27th February 2024.

Year 5 & 6 boys from all primary schools are invited to join us for a real experience of high school at Edmund Rice College for a day. Students will participate in a range of activities from subjects they will actually do in Year 7 such as Technology and Applied Studies, PDHPE, Science, Visual Arts, Music and Food Technology. It’s fun and it’s free.

After Try Year 7 for a Day, families are welcome to enjoy the College Expo and find out what makes ERC unique. Check out the learning spaces, performances and demonstrations on show and take a guided tour with one of our senior students.

The College Expo gives you insight into the variety of experiences available at ERC, designed to support boy-centred learning, while providing you with the opportunity to ask questions from our dedicated staff and students.

Guided tours can be booked below and operate at 3.30pm, 3.45pm, 4.00pm, 4.15pm, 4.30pm, 4.45pm and 5.00pm.

REGISTER NOW

Please access the Careers Website: which provides the latest information to help students make decisions about their future careers and life beyond school.

• Go to erccareers.com
• Then to important information
• Click on to School Careers newsletter

Mr Cajar
Careers Advisor

Change in Student/Family Circumstances/Contact Information/Medical Conditions

If any change has occurred/occurs in your family – separation, divorce, serious illness, the College should be notified as soon as possible. The College seeks to be supportive of families in such circumstances and such events always have a bearing on a child’s education. Likewise, a change of address, email or phone number (work, home or mobile) or emergency contact should be advised immediately.

If your son suffers from a medical condition it is vital that you inform the office of his condition and what treatment is required in an emergency. An emergency management plan must be developed for any students with serious conditions.

Please verify all information via the TASS Parent Lounge.

2024 TERM DATES

UNIFORM SHOP CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS